The Prisoner of Heaven
is a treasure to be savoured, much like a discovery of a second-hand bookstore,
perhaps stumbled upon during a wander of the wintry streets of Barcelona.
In the next instalment of the four-book cycle, that has
included The Shadow of the Wind and The Angel’s Game, Carlos Ruiz Zafon
returns to the Sempere & Sons bookshop. Trade is suffering during the
Christmas period of 1957 and Daniel Sempere is keeping a watchful eye on the
shelves of untouched books. While frost laces the outside of the shop window, the
quiet is broken by the appearance of a mysterious customer in the doorway.
The unknown figure
limps towards Daniel and demands to buy a rare copy of The Count of Monte Cristo - which happens to be the most expensive
book in the shop. This, the strange character says, will be made out as a gift
to Daniel’s friend, Fermin Romero de Torres, including an ominous note.
After the man’s exit what follows is an intrinsic delve into
Spain’s forgotten secrets. While visiting dank and dark prison cells and scenes
of murder Carlos Ruiz Zafon weaves a thrilling pattern of intrigue, cleverly
interlocking with the previous books of the series.
Yet out of the bleak and sinister void of imprisonment shines
the colourful spark provided by Fermin. In him, the Spanish novelist has
created a lovable fighter, who squirms, scratches and kicks at the officials of
Franco’s dictatorship with a wonderfully funny and eloquent rhetoric.
The Prisoner of Heaven
is an entertaining read that delightfully combines the historical, mystery and
romance conventions, and is a welcome addition to any book collection.
